[154] A Lilliputian Ode on the ENGINE with which Captain Gulliver extinguish’d the Flames in the Royal Palace.

(published anonymously May/June 1727)

​

I.

Engine strong,
Thick and long!
With Surprize,
Have our Eyes,
View’d its Size;
And its Nose,
Like a Rose;
And its Beard,
Much rever’d!
How it stood,
When the Flood,
Pouring down,
Sav’d the Town!
Ev’n the Queen,
Who has seen
How it plays,
In Amaze
Fury quits;
And has Fits
Of Delight,
Since the Sight.
‘Tis a Thing
Makes the King
Sometimes glad,
Sometimes sad;
Pray Heav’n he run not mad

​

II.

O how strange
Is the Change
In the Crowd!
Wives are loud
In its Praise;
And with Bays
Want to spread
Its high Head!
Maids, with Joys,
Hear the Boys
Talk it o’er,
And adore!
Husbands now
Jealous grow;
And a-Nights
Are in Frights!
All Day long,
Every Tongue
Says or sings
Wondrous Things.
Titty Tit, (this is a name under which Pope published poems on Gulliver)
Master Wit,
Tries in vain,
Lofty Strain,
To set forth
Its Magnitude and Worth!

​

III.

Mountain-Man,
He who can
Reach thy Fame,
And proclaim
Stature odd,
Is a GOD.
O descend,
As a Friend,
To our State;
And beget
Such a Race
In this Place.
Female blest,
By thee prest;
Whose fierce Fire
Of Desire
Thy great Tool
Can but cool!
But ’tis such,
That too much
We intreat!
Ah! hard Fate.
One Flame out,
‘Tis past doubt,
That thy Parts
Have rais’d one in our Hearts.